By ForexTime
- US-Israel strikes kill Iran’s supreme leader
- Oil benchmarks surge over 10% on Sunday open
- Safe-haven assets Gold/Silver also gap higher
- Risk-off may be name of game ahead of packed week
- Cheat sheet of potential winners and losers
Over the weekend, US–Israel strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – a dangerous turning point in an already distressed region.
Tehran fired back at Israel and hit US bases across the Gulf.
This explosive development came as a surprise, given there was an agreement to hold further talks over the coming weeks.
With missiles still flying, the risk of a full-blown regional escalation is growing by the minute.
And this was reflected on Sunday when markets opened with sharp gaps from Friday’s close amid the chaos.
- BRENT: ↑ 8%
- WTI: ↑7%
- XAUUSD: ↑2%
- XAGUSD: ↑1%
Note: Prices shown represent the gap from Friday’s close.
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Here’s a cheat sheet of assets that could win/lose:
POTENTIAL WINNERS:
- VIX (Volatility Index)
The primary beneficiary as market fear spikes; prices may surge as investors hedge against a wider regional conflict.
- Safe-haven assets – (XAUUSD, XAGUSD, JPY, CHF, USD)
As risk aversion intensifies, investors may rush to safe-haven destinations.
- Oil benchmarks – (WTI, Brent)
The US-Israeli war against Iran has plunged the global crude market into turmoil, with the effective closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz fuelling supply side fears.
POTENTIAL LOSERS:
- Global equities – (CN50, EU50, UK100, US500, NAS100, US30)
As investors scramble for safety amid the chaos, global equities may face fresh selling pressure.
- Bitcoin, Ethereum, Altcoins
Overall uncertainty and caution may repel investors from cryptos in favour of precious metals or safe-haven FX currencies.
There have been reports that Trump intends to engage in new talks with Iran’s new leadership.
Nevertheless, the Iran crisis has entered a new phase which could mean heightened levels of volatility over the next few days to weeks.
And with volatility comes opportunity.
Don’t miss out.
Article by ForexTime
ForexTime Ltd (FXTM) is an award winning international online forex broker regulated by CySEC 185/12 www.forextime.com
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